Peru and civil unrest...

[DodgyGeezer]

has anyone recently gone to or booked a holiday to Peru (Machu Pichu and Lake Titikaka in particular)? We were thinking of this for next year, however, it seems as if the FCDO is warning against travel to various parts - am I being paranoid in treating this as "...just not let's bother going to any of Peru.."?

[KAgantua]

It is worrying saw this one one of my phone feeds, its including the capital Lima as well - not looking good

[DodgyGeezer]

well, just to close a tiny thread off - we finally went to Lima a few weeks ago. No issues at all (even with the upcoming election), lovely place (where we stayed, there are some dreadfully poor parts ), great food, reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit/stay if you're thinking of Machu Pichu and/or a cruise departing from Lima

[nvubu]

That's good to read.

My daughter is spending her Christmas break between semesters this year in Peru. She is at uni in the US and has booked the her return flights from the US to Lima and is now trying to sort out a programme.

There are two of them, both British, going for the whole 4 weeks, and possibly 2-4 US students joining them after Christmas as they want to spend Christmas at home. When she returns here in three weeks time she should have it confirmed whether the US students are joining and she can get her plans fixed. I think it's a PITA if the US students go as it will make both halves of the trip seem rushed.

Apart from Lima, she has the following on her list of places to go if the US lot come

Paracas
Huacachina
Nazca
Arequipa
Colca Canyon
Iquitos (Christmas)
Huanchaco
Huaraz
Cusco (New Year)
Puerto Maldonado
Lake Titicaca (Puno)

If it is just the two of them, I've just seen her proposed plan

Cusco
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Arequipa
Nazca (Christmas)
Huacachina
Paracas
Iquitos (New Year)
Huaraz
Huachaco

To get around flights are quite cheap and there is a bus as well.

[DodgyGeezer]

One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude. Ok I'm a fat bd but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)

[nvubu]

DodgyGeezer said:

One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude. Ok I'm a fat bd but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)

Thanks - I'll relay this info. They are both athletes at the uni, but not sure if this would be a good or a bad thing as it might well lead them to think everything is fine.